UNITED KINGDOM - SEPTEMBER 06: Hubert Cecil Booth invented the 'Puffing Billy' vacuum cleaner in 1901, it was the first successful vacuum cleaner. He experimented with sucking air, his new machine was more successful than other similar inventions due to an effective source of power. 'Puffing Billy', had a 5 hp piston pump driven by a petrol/gasoline engine or electric motor. There were no brushes; dust was extracted entirely by the powerful suction through nozzles at the ends of long flexible tubes. (Photo by SSPL/Getty Images)
